ABOUT THE 2009/2010 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
Three years ago, organizers moved the Los Angeles auto show to the end of the year, in order to position it ahead of the shows in New York, Chicago and (most importantly) Detroit. The ploy worked, as Last year's LA show attracted a large number of important vehicle introductions. The economic downturn has made this a quieter show than last year's, but there were still several notable introductions and several interesting concept vehicles making their first appearances in the United States.
WHEN TO GO
The Los Angeles Auto Show is open to the public Friday, December 4th through Sunday, December 13th, 2009.
Hours:
Weekdays: 11 am - 10 pm
Saturdays: 9 am - 10 pm
Sundays: 9 am - 8 pm
Note: Entrance closes one hour prior to show closing.
Tip: The show tends to be packed wall-to-wall on the weekends. Go Monday through Friday during the day if at all possible.
Admission:
Adults: $12 at the door ($2 discount coupon available here) or $10 when purchased online (buy here). Online tickets for opening day (Friday, Dec. 4th) are only $8.
Children 12 and under: Free with a paid adult.
Seniors (65+): $8 on weekdays (cash at the door).
HOW TO GET THERE
The LA Auto Show is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa Street in Los Angeles.
Directions to the Los Angeles Auto Show
Parking is available at the convention center for $12 per day. There are several independent lots in the area, some less expensive, some more.
LA Convention Center parking information
Tip: A cheaper alternative is to take public transportation; the Metro Blue Line train's Pico Station is a block away. Metro Rail information
WHAT TO SEE
SOUTH HALL
The LA show's biggest room has lots of good stuff, including Hyundai's gorgeous new Sonata and Tucson and the potentially controversial 2011 Buick Regal. Audi's brightly-lit booth deserves a visit, although the convertible R8 Spyder will probably draw huge crowds.
WEST HALL
Ford has a huge display with a nifty split-open Taurus and several hands-on displays relating to the Fiesta that are sure to be a hit with the kids. Ford will also be giving ride-along demos of their self-parking system. If you've never seen a car park itself, you'll want to check this out -- it's downright trippy. On the opposite side of the hall, tucked into a corner of Chrysler's massive display, there's a collection of six Vipers, worth seeing if you're into that sort of thing.
PETREE HALL
Don't miss Porsche's display, which once again takes up all of the diminutive Petree Hall, just across the hallway from the West Hall Lincoln/Mercury display.
CONCOURSE HALL
Ferrari's usual triangle display is gone, as are several of the other exotic automakers, but Spyker, Rolls-Royce, and Aston-Martin are back, and the rest of the hall has been taken up by Morgan/Allard, Fisker, Steve Saleen's SMS supercars, and Lotus, which has an Evora on display.
